114 [April, 
16. Demiegretta sacra Gmel. (Blue Reef-Heron.) Stray Feathers 
ii, 304. 
Common on both islands. 
Distrib. India, Burma, Andamans, Nicobars. 
17. ArdeOla Cratii Sykes. (Pond-Heron.) Stray Feathers ii, 
309. 
Barren Island only (llume) ; not seen by the writer. 
Distrib. India ; Andamans (a visitant). 
18. Stbrnula melanaughen Temm. (Snowy Tern.) Stray Fea¬ 
thers ii, 319 ; also p. 107. 
Barren Island (Hume). 
Distrib.* Malaya ; ISTicobars ; Andamans. 
The common Fowl is said to have been landed on both islands 
along with the goats, there is now, however, no trace of its existence. 
Possibly the large lizard— Hydrosaurus salvator —which is common, at 
least on Narcondam, may be held responsible for its disappearance, no- 
being more certain than that a fowl, if nesting on the ground, 
must sooner or later fall a victim to this voracious creature. 
Reptiles :—There is on Narcondam at least one land-snake, for the 
writer and his companion (Mr. McCausland, commander of the “ Nan- 
cowry”) came upon one cast-off skin in the centre of the island. 
Lizards, both igiianiform lizards and skinques, are very common 
on Narcondam though not at all frequent on Barren Island. The whole 
of the crested ones were very shy but the skinques were the reverse of 
timid.f The large water-lizard, Hydrosaurus salvator, is very common 
on Narcondam and is so unused to being disturbed that it waits till one 
comes so close as to be able to touch it before turning aside into the 
jungle. It was most common near the north bay where there is a small 
sandy beach frequented by turtles. Doubtless here, as elsewhere, the 
* In this list of birds only the distribution within the limits of South-Eastern 
Asia (India and Ceylon; Indo-China; Malaya and Northern Australia) is given, a 
more detailed account of the distribution for the few that extend beyond this area 
being, for our present purpose, unnecessary. 
+ Having one forenoon crossed the island from the landing-place near the 
anchorage at the north-east corner to the north bay the writer with his companion 
(Mr. Kellog, Gunner of the “ Nancoiory ") rested for lunch in the shade of the Coco¬ 
nut grove there ; while eating we were amused to watch the'skinques prospecting 
for the crumbs that fell aside ; after a little—we in the meantime sitting as still 
as possible—some of the bolder or more confident lizards climbed our legs in search 
of more. We observed besides that others of them disputed with the hermit-crabs 
which swarmed there for a share of the nutty portion of some opened coco-nuts 
that we had thrown aside after drinking the “ milk.” 
240 
